 |
Photo courtesy of Pat Long |
Our Berners...
Herein you can find a story or two about the Bernese Mountain Dogs who have shared our lives. Like all Berners, they have been magnificent creatures with great souls, each one “treasured beyond measure.” That's our Zoey, shown above, who passed into legend on September 20, 2002.
The story begins with Tycho...
Obedience Training — for sport and for LIFE... This is a BIG dog. To ensure that this big dog grows up to be the lovely companion you're dreaming of, you absolutely, positively must TRAIN your dog to become that companion. It doesn't just happen. They don't come that way. But let me assure you that any effort put into training your dog is well worth it. Time that you spend focusing on your dog — working on your communication, even if it's just for a few minutes here and there — you will be repaid with exorbitant interest. Because I enjoy competitive obedience with my dogs, I want to encourage anybody with a Berner to give it a try. The evidence is here to prove you don’t need a Border Collie or a Golden Retriever to do well in this sport! (Click on the certificate.) |
 |
What is a Bernese Mountain Dog?
If you’ve stumbled across this page without knowing what a Berner is, I’ll give you a few links to get you started. This isn’t a dog for everyone — so I beg you: do your research carefully! Do they shed? You betcha—that item that just arrived in today's mail, shrink-wrapped, is going to have a dog hair inside, guaranteed. There will be dog hair in your bed, in your car, on your couch, in your cereal, on your curtains, on your clothes, in your refrigerator, and in your mouth. You can vacuum and it will help, but there will still be dog hair in all those places. Will they hurt your hardwood floors? There isn't enough polyurethane in the world that will save them. Do they dig? These dogs come, standard issue, with a hardhat and a job offer to join your local Excavators-R-Us. They get VERY big and they bark at the mailman and chase squirrels and puppyhood lasts for three YEARS and when it's cold you can't get them to come in and when it's raining you can't get them to go out...
So, why do we love them so much? If you're still reading, then I suspect you know... If you're still curious, the following are some jumping-off points... Please note: I do NOT breed. However, I'm glad to talk to people who have started their research and are looking for a little advice on how to proceed. If you are determined that this IS the right dog for you, please be diligent and patient. You will invest a lot of heart, soul and money into this dog—so do all you can to put the odds in your favor for having a long-lived, healthy, sound dog with a wonderful disposition.
I'll stop preaching to the choir...
